Key-ring holder



Aug. 12, 11924a MHLLEF? HING EGLDEH Filed March 1924 i". di.

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. MILLER, OF MONTPELIER, VERMONT.

KEY-RING HOLDER.

Application filed March 26, 1924. Serial No. 702,040.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montpelier, in the county of lVashington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key- Ring Holders, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to new and useful l0 improvements in key ring holders which are l especially adapted to be worn on the belt of a person, means being provided for preventing the accidental displacement of the key ring holder when the same is supported thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a key ring holder of the above mentioned character, wherein a safety `'lock is associated therewith for retaining the key ring in position on the holder against accidental displacement therefrom, the safety lock being of such construction as to permit the same to be readily and easily actuated for releasing the same from a locked position whenever it is necessary to remove the key ring from the holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a key ring holder of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

InV the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a front elevation of my key ring holder showing the same in position on a belt, Y

Figure24 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and l Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on approximately line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown vthe preferred em` bodiment of my invention, the numeral l designates generally my key ring holder and the same is formed preferably of a single strip of metal. The upper portion of the strip of metal 1 is provided with an attaching portion 2 the same being of suoli construction as tolit snugly around the belt A in the manner as clearly shown in the drawing. The attaching portion is further of such construction as to permit the same to be frictionally in engagement with the belt thus preventing the free movement of the same thereon and holding the key ring holder in the desired position on the belt. The lower portion 3 of the key ring holder l is bent back upon itself to provide the key ring receiving and retaining loop 4L at the bottom of the strip in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The upper portion of the bent back portion 3 extends inwardly adjacent the intermediate portion of the strip l and is curved outwardly in the manner shown at 5 in the drawing to permit the key ring to readily be received between the strip l and the bent back portion 3 thereof.

For the purpose of retaining the key ring in position in the looped portion 4 I provide the safety lock which comprises the substantially U-shaped member 6. The U- shaped member 6 is adapted to operate in the elongated slot 7 provided in the bent back portion 3 and one of the arms 7 of the U-sliaped member 6 is adapted to extend on the outer face of the bent bac-k portion 3 as is alsoa portion of the crown 8 of the substantially U-shaped member 6. The U- shaped member 6 is furthermore pivotally supported on the bent back portion 3 by means of the transversely extending pin 9 which is supported in a suitable ear 10 provided on the outer face of the bent back portion 3, and extends further through the crown portion of the lJ-shapedvr member. The outer face of the other arm li of the Ueshaped member 6 is substantially flat to. co-operate with the inner face of the intermediate portion of the strip l when the lock is .in a looked position in the manner as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. For the purpose of actuating the lockingmember I provide the outer end of the arm 7 of the inverted U-shaped member 6 withv the ball-shaped head 12.

In use, when it is desired to place a key ring on the key ring holder, the inverted U-shaped locking member 6 is swung out 105 of engagement with the intermediate portion of the strip lby raising'upwardly on the ball-shaped head l2 and causing the arm 11 to pass through the slot 7 formed in the bent back portion 3. In this manner the outer face of the crown portion of the Ainverted U-shaped member 6 will extend substantially flush with theinnei face of the bent back portion 3 and the key ring mayl then be passed over the bent backportion and the outwardly'extendingarmsof the inverted U-shaped member so that the key -fiush'with the innerface of the strip 1 in the manner as shown -and thereby will pre` ventrtli'e 'possibility of the key ring from working up out of the bent back portion an'dbeing accidentally removed from the holder. y

'It ywill thus be seen from the foregoing description, that' a. safety keyl ring holder has been provided which may be easily and quickly 4actuated for placing a keyfring thereon and furthermore permitting the same "to be removed therefrom. It-*is Ato be understood ofcourse, that the arms of the -inverted U-shaped locking member are of suoli length as to permit the key ring to pass over the same when the arms are disposed in a substantially horizontal position-"and thus will not interfere with vthe free movement of the key ring thereover. A'key ring holder of the above mentioned character, may 'be manufactured at a very low cost and will further bef strongand durable and at alltimes` positive-in its locking action. i Y

While I have shown the preferredembodiinentuof'my invention, it islto be understood" that various changes -in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the'spirit oftheinvention and the scope of the'ap- P'ended claims. y

Having thusdescribed myV invention, what I claim is X i l. A key ringholder comprising a strip Sof metalvhaving its upper end provided with attaching means forsupporting the-same on the belt of a'person, the lower portion of said strip` being bent' back upon itself to provide a' keyri-ng receiving 'and supporting loop, meanson'saidfbent back portion for retaining the key ring disposed in the looped portion y'against accidental displacement therefrom,` vsaid 'means comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped vmember pivotally supy i ported'fon saidben-t'backv portion and extending through ai slot provided therein, one of the arms of the inverted U-shaped member being in engagement with the intermediate portion of said strip, the other arm extending beyond' -the outer face of said bent back portion and providing a means for actuating the same.

2. `A'key'ring"holder comprising a strip of met-al having its upper end provided with attaching means for supporting the "sameon the belt "of a'person, the lower portionofsaid strip being bent back upon 1tself to provide a. key ring receiving and supporting loop, means on said bent back portion for retaining the key ring disposed in the looped port-ion against accidental displacement therefrom, said means comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped memb erpivotally supported on the bent back portion 4and adapted `to haveone of the arms thereof extending vthrough an elongated slot provided in the bent back portion, the inwardly extending arm having itsouter face adapted for engagement with the inner face of the intermediate portion of the strip, the opposite arm of the inverted U-shaped member extending adjacent the Iouter face of the bent back portion and Vprovided with an enlarged outer end whereby the same may be swung upwardly to move the inwardly disposed arm throudh said'slot and outof engagement with tie intermediate` portion of the strip.

3. A key ring holder comprising a strip of-metal having its upper end provided with attaching means for supporting the same on the-belt of aperson, the Vlower portion of lsaid stripbeingbent back upon itself `to #provide-akey ring receiving and supportingloop, means-von sa-id bent back portion for retaining the key ring disposed .in thelooped portion yagainst accidental displacement therefrom, said .means comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped member pivotally supported on a pin extending transversely on the bent back portion, one of the arms of the inverted U-shaped member extending through an elongated slot provided in the bent back portion and having the outerface thereof adapted to extend flush* against the inner face of the intermediate port-ion of the strip, the other arm of theinverted U-shaped member being disposed adjacent the outer face of the bent back portion, and an enlarged ball formed on the outer end of the last mentioned arm providing a means whereby said U-shaped member may be swung upwardly so as to cause the inner disposed arm to extend throughv said slot whereby the outer face of the crown portion of the inverted U- shaped member will extend substantially fiushwithfthe inner face of the bent back portionto permit the removal of the key ring holder from the looped portion thereof.

Intestimony whereof I aiix my signature. Y

ARTHUR E. MILLER. 

